Cigar lighter



J. SINKO CIGAR LIGHTER Aug. 2o, 1935.

File@ Oct. l5, 1931 Patented Aug. zo, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3Claims.

This invention relates to electric cigar lighters of the wireie ss"type, and has reference more particularly to that class of such igniterswherein the ignitcr coil is mounted within the chamber 5 of a hollowknob, and the front wall of the latter is provided with a centralopening, preferably closed by a window, through which light rays fromthe igniter coil are visible.

The purpose or object of the invention is to provide an improved cigarlighter of this type well adapted to signal its incandescent condition,automatically maintain a normally separated condition of the contactmembers, and maintain a secure grip of the removable unit on thestationary unit against accidental displacement or jarring off, at thesame time permitting easy application and removal.

The invention, in a preferred embodiment thereof, is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which-- Fig. 1 is a longitudinal axial section,showing the contacts separated.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the knob pushed inwardly, and thecontacts closed.

Figs. 3 and 4 are transverse sections on the lines 3-3 and 4-4 of Fig.l.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the'line 35 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a perspective detail of a friction sleeve that is mounted inthe removable member of the device.

Referring to the drawing, and describing tirst the stationary unit orholder, I designates a fragment of the usual sheet metal instrumentboard, formed with a hole l I in which is mounted the threaded shank ofa thimble I2 secured in place by a nut I3. Through the thimble I2 is ledthe usual insulated circuit conductor I4 from the positive side of thebattery. On the reduced inner end or neck of the thimble I2 is mountedthe countersunk face of an escutcheon ring I that lies in contact withthe instrument board I0, and nested in the countersunk face of theeseutchcon ring and also mounted on the neck of the thimble I2 is ahollow sheet metal post I6; the escutcheon ring and post being locked on`the thimble I2 by swaging down the endof the neck over the base of thepost I3, as shown at I'I. The inner end of the circuit conductor I4beyond the thimble I2 is stripped to expose the wire I8, which, in thepresent instance, consists of a twisted strand oi' fine copper wires,and on this exposed end of the circuit line is mounted a short metalsleeve I9. Fitted onto the sleeve I9 is an insulation disc 20, theperiphery of which nts within a cup-shaped spacing member 2i, whichlatter snugly ts within the hollow post I6, lying against the bottomwall of the latter, said cup-shaped member 2| beingy formed with aforwardly offset central portion 2i that enclrcles with clearance thesleeve I9. Also mounted on the sleeve I9, and lying against the forwardface of the insulation disc 20, is an annular contact terminalcomprising a disc 22 (Fig. 4) formed with four spaced forwardlyprojecting contact fingers 23. Cup-shaped member 2| may be locked inplace by a plurality of indented lugs 24 formed in the circumferentialwall lof the hollow post I6. The forward end of the sleeve I9 is formedwith a head 25 having a central countersink, and its rear end is swagedover a brass washer 26 that, in turn, lies against an insulation washer21 bearing against the offset central portion 2i of the cup-shapedmember ZI, whereby the members 2I, 20 and 22 are all securely clampedtogether as a unit on the circuit conductor. To lock the end of thelatter in the sleeve IB, the strands are spread into the counter-sink ofthe sleeve head. a thin washer 28 is then laid over the ends of thestrands, and the metal of the head is then swaged down over the disc 28.It will thus be seen that the contact terminal 22 is in metal contactwith the circuit line through the metal sleeve I8, while the cup-shapedmember 2I and the hollow post I6 are insulated from the circuit line.

Describing next the removable or portable unit, 29 designates a hollowknob of bakelite or other nonconducting material, the iront or face wallof which has a central opening therethrough, the outer end of whichopening is enlarged-to form a seat Iona translucent window 30 of plainor colored glass, amber, or other translucent material that ispreferably mounted in a thin metal shell 3i set in the enlarged end ofthe opening. The knob 29 is formed, behind the window 30, with aninternal annular rib 32. Fitted within the rib 32 and extending inwardlythereof is a hollow supporting member, the outer open end o! thecylindrical wall 33 of which is swaged over the outer side of the rib32, as shown at 33. The supporting member has at its inner end atransverse wall 34 that is formed with a central hole into which isdriven a low boss 35' formed on the face of a nut 35, whereby the nut is`locked on said wall. The wall 34 is further formed with a circular rowof holes 38 Fig. 5), the purpose of which is to permit the light rays topass from 'the igniter coil through the supporting member to and throughthe window 30. The wall 34 is extended beyond the diameter of thecylindrical porlll tion 33 to torni an. abutment fiange 3 i' ing ashereinafter described. Encircling the cylindrical wail 33 is a sleeveSiorrned at its outer end with a flange 38 which abuts against the innerside oi the rib Encircling and slidable on the hollow post i6 is afriction sleeve 39 formed with a laterally onset transverse wall w'thatis centrally apertured to slidably engage over the sleeve 3l andnormally abuts against the iiange 34', and between the ange 38 and thewall dit is a coil compression spring 4i. As best shown in Fig. 6, thefriction sleeve 391s formed with a, plurality of inwardly struck fingerst2 that, as the friction sleeve is telescoped over the post iE, areexpanded into the plane of the friction sleeve, and thus afford afriction grip on the post.

Mounted in the nut 35 is a screw d3 that projects inwardly of thetransverse wall 34 of the supporting member, and clamped thereon betweenthe head of the screw and insulation washers-44 by means of a nut te isa cup-shaped contact member 4t. Within this contact member is the usualigniter coil di, one end or which is anchored to the head or the bolt43, while the other end is anchored in the circumferential wall of thecontact member 4t. The bottom wall of the contact member 46 encirclesthe screw 43 with clearance, as shown, so as to be out of electricalcontact with the latter. Between the bottom wall of the contact member46 and the igniter coil tl is a. mica washer 43, and this washer and thebottom wall of the contact 46 are formed with registering openings 49,best shown in Fig. 3, to permit the passage of the light rays fromtheigniter outwardly through the holes 36 of the supporting member toand through the window 30.

'Ihe spring 4l normally maintains the contacts 23 and 46 separated, asshown in Fig. i. When the knob is pushed inwardly, the spring 4l Iiscompressed, and the contacts are closed, as shown in Fig. 2. The currentthen flows from the circuit conductor I8 through sleeve I9, contacts 23and 46, igniter coil 41, screw 43, nut 35, walls 34 and 33 of thesupporting member, sleeve 3l, spring 4I, friction sleeve 39, and post I6to esucutcheon ring I5 and thence to ground through the metal instrumentboard I3. From the foregoing it will be seen that the sleeve 31 forms apart of the grounding circuit, and it also, through its abutment againstthe inner side of the rib 32, cooperates with the ange 33 in supportingand centeringl the cylindrical body 33 of the supporting member.

.When the igniter has become incandescent, the knob is withdrawn bodilyfrom the post I6, and when subsequently replaced, the spring 4Iautomatically maintains the removable unit sulciently retracted toinsure separation of the contact members. When the removable unit iswithdrawn the friction sleeve 38, of course, comes with it, beingclamped and centered between the'inner end of the spring 4I and theabutment iiange 34 of, the supporting member.

I claim:

1. In a cigar lighter ofthe type described, the combination with astationary hollow sheet metal post, and a contact member within thelatter, of

m ce@ n n @interesse a removable militer-carrying adapted fortelescoping engagement with said post, comprising a hollow knob formedwith an opening through its front wall, a cylindrical supporting membermounted in said opening formed at its inner end with a transverse wallhaving an annular abutment flange, a friction sleeve formed at vitsouter end with a transverse wall apertured to encircle said supportingmember and slidable over the latter', said sleeve being in frictionalsliding contact with. said post and spaced from the surrounding portionof said knob, a thrust spring encircling said supporting member andforcing said transverse wall against said abutment iange, and an ignitercoil and cooperating contact member mounted on the transverse wall ofsaid supporting member.

2'. In a cigar lighter of the type described, the combination with astationary hollow sheet metal post, and a contact member within thelatter, of a removable igniter-carrying unit adapted for telescopingengagement with said post, comprising a knob formed with an openingthrough its face wali and an internal annular rib surrounding saidopening, a cylindrical supporting member mounted in said openingformedat its outer end with a flange engaged withf' the outer wall of said riband at its inner end with a transverse wall having an annular abutmentlange, a sleeve mounted on said supporting member formed with an annularflange abutting against the inner side of said rib, a thrust springencircling said sleeve, a friction sleeve telescoping oversaid post andtermed with an apertured transverse wall slidably mounted on saidiirst-named sleeve and clamped between said spring and said abutmentiiange, and an igniter coil and cooperating contact member mounted onthe transverse wall of said supporting member.

3. In a cigar lighter of the type described, the combination with astationary hollow sheet metal post, and a contact member withinthe'latter, of a removable igniter-carrying unit adapted for telescopingengagement with said post, comprising a knob -formed with an openingthrough its face wall and an internal annular rib surrounding saidopening, a window closing the outer end of said opening, a cylindricalsupporting member mounted in said opening behind said window, saidsupporting member formed at its outer end with a flange engaged with theouter wall of said rib and at its inner end with an apertured transversewall having an annular abutment ilange, a sleeve mounted on saidsupporting member formed with an annular flange abutting against theinner side of said rib, a thrust spring encircling said sleeve, and atits outer end bearing against the annular flange of the latter, afriction sleeve telescoping over said post and formed with an aperturedtransverse wall slidably mounted on said first-named sleeve and clampedbetween the inner end of said spring and said abutment flange, and anigniter coil and cooperating contact member mounted on the transversewall of said supporting member.

JOHN SINKO.

